Category: Delaware

12/2/2014

DELAWARE'S FERAL, ABANDONED, STRAY, AND LOST CATS

WILDLIFE IS PRECIOUS IN DELAWARE: FERAL CATS FIND A PLACE AS COMMUNITY CATS OR NEIGHBORHOOD CATS

One of the things that I love about living in Delaware is the state's progressive attitude toward all wildlife. In Delaware, for example, it is a felony, a criminal offense, to harm any feral or pet cat. I've included a link below about Delaware's legal designation of feral cats as "community cats" or "neighborhood cats." Not only do they protect feral cats, they offer assistance to farmers and homeowners to help them find a peaceable way to integrate feral cats into their communities.

http://www.nokilldelaware.org/community-cats/

I became one of Delaware's feral cat caretakers because of an important phrase I've heard throughout my life: "When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat..." which I believe was meant to apply to every one who comes to our door in hunger.

In fact, many people throughout the United States now recognize our responsibility for caring for feral cats. Alley Cat Allies reports on their website (www.alleycat.org) that "Intentionally killing a cat is a criminal offense in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, regardless of ownership. Anti-cruelty laws apply to all cats— companion, abandoned, lost, and feral."

All life is precious, in ways we sometimes do not completely understand. That is why we have laws to guide us. Thank you, Delaware, and state and national legislators, for defining a path to progress.

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10/3/2013

"Building Resilient Coastal Communities" Is Coast Day 2013's Theme

Coast Day 2013 Is This Sunday, October 6, in Lewes, Delaware!

Celebrate the Beautiful Delaware Coast!

Coast Day 2013 Announcement From The University of Delaware:

"The University of Delaware's festive Coast Day returns for the 37th year on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our theme this year is "Building Resilient Coastal Communities." Throughout the event, UD scientists, staff, and students are highlighting some of the many ways we are working to maintain a healthy environment and ensure that society continues to benefit from the coast. Anyone curious about the wonders of the sea can visit the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del. on Coast Day to learn about the state's rich marine resources."

"Coast Day will highlight how UD scientists, staff, and students are improving understanding of ocean environments and serving coastal communities. Coast Day attendees can interact with researchers, tour ships, try hands-on activities, and attend presentations on a range of topics."

"Family-friendly activities include an event-wide treasure hunt for answers to questions about the environment and Coast Day exhibits. Children can meet sea-dwelling animals such as horseshoe crabs and dogfish sharks at the critter touch tanks. Everyone can enjoy live music, vendor displays, and seafood favorites showcased by local chefs at the Crab Cake Cook-Off and the Seafood Chowder Challenge."

"Coast Day is sponsored by UD’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment and the Delaware Sea Grant College Program."

"Admission and parking are free!"

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7/3/2013

Prime Hook Beach

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

This Sunday, Delaware's The News Journal will feature beautiful photographs of a hidden wonder along the Delaware Bay--Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Prime Hook Beach. Breathtaking photos of wildlife and the open access areas for public enjoyment will be featured. The article is entitled, "Prime Hook: Photographs of the Off-the-Beaten Path Beach."

A few miles east of Milton, Delaware, and 22 miles southeast of Dover, the quiet shores of Prime Hook Beach can be reached via Prime Hook Road, a left turn off of Delaware Route 1 South.

Directly behind the community of homes lining the beach is the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was created in 1963 by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary expressly for migrating birds. It encompasses nearly 10,000 diverse acres of freshwater and saltwater marshes, woodlands, grasslands, bottomland forested habitats, scrub brush zones, farming lands, ponds, and a seven mile long creek. Naturally occurring tidal salt marshes make up 2300 acres of the refuge, and man-made freshwater ponds cover 4000 acres. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the freshwater impoundment systems were built in the 1980's to provide refuge officials the means to raise and lower water levels in the ponds to accommodate the needs of migratory birds during different seasons of the year. The ponds provided habitat for wintering waterfowl, places to feed for spring and fall migratory shorebirds, and nesting areas for wading birds in the summer.

And therein lies the rub. Having provided beautiful habitat for bird watching and wildlife viewing, the refuge created the perfect conditions for housing development along the bay coast: water views both east and west of established residences and newly built homes. But since 2006, multiple hurricanes have caused sea water to breach the dunes, causing an influx of sediment and saltwater into the freshwater ponds, killing most of the vegetation and limiting the use of the ponds by migrating and local birds, as well as by local wildlife populations.

The beauty of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge will be preserved in the beautiful photo layout in The News Journal on Sunday, but all of Delaware and the nation needs to rally behind permanently preserving our national wildlife refuges.

Egrets Resting in Trees at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

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12/1/2012

Photographs of Hurricane Sandy's Impact in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania Needed for Research by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

A Message from the Science Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

Staff at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary are currently working to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. To help us with this assessment, we welcome any photos, stories, videos, or storm-related data you may have. Please share them with us on facebook or send them to SRothrock@DelawareEstuary.org.

We are particularly interested in the natural lands and waters of coastal Delaware, New Jersey's southern bayshore, and Southeast Pennsylvania. We hope to learn new lessons about which habitats and resources survived best. We will then apply those lessons using new projects, like our living shorelines.
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Hurricane Sandy made landfall within 50 miles of Delaware Bay, sparing millions from the destruction others are suffering in the Northeast. We are extremely lucky. Damage could have been far worse. That's why it's imperative we take the necessary steps to prepare for the future. Your photos, stories, and videos can help.

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6/23/2012

Sea Glass Festivals

Lewes' Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival 2012

Sea Glass Collected Along the Delaware Shore

The Lewes Historical Society's 2012 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, in the Historic Complex at Second and Shipcarpenter Streets in Lewes, Delaware, attracted over 5,000 guests. The festival is a fundraiser for the Historical Society and an annual event that local artisans and patrons look forward to each year.

Over forty sea glass artists and other coastal artists participated in the event which featured listening to keynote speakers, having sea glass shards identified by time and place of manufacture, selling jewelry, crafts, and sea glass, and enjoying beachcombing activities.

Sea glass can be found all over the world, and the beaches of the northeast United States' coastline are no exception. Delaware's Atlantic seashore and its Delaware Bay shore are excellent places to collect the surf tumbled shards of glass. The most prized pieces have a salty appearing patina on all sides and corners of the glass, with no shiny surfaces in evidence. These are considered to be jewelry class pieces and are more valuable than those pieces with shiny glass showing through. The colors range from mottled clear glass through browns, greens, aquas, blues, golds, oranges, and black. The best times to look for the tumbled shards are during spring tides and during the first low tide after a storm.

Test your eye for spotting sea glass on a sandy beach in the pictures below. Can you find the sea glass in each picture? There may be more than one piece in each picture!

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6/2/2012

Prime Hook Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

Entrance to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

A few miles east of Milton, Delaware, and 22 miles southeast of Dover, the quiet shores of Prime Hook Beach can be reached via Prime Hook Road, a left turn off of Delaware Route 1 South. The beach area is not easily accessible to the public, but there are a few unmarked entrances over dunes that can be traversed. Parking is a problem because of the frequent posting of No Parking signs, and there is no parking lot available for visitors.

Directly behind the community of homes lining the beach is the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was created in 1963 by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary expressly for migrating birds. It encompasses nearly 10,000 diverse acres of freshwater and saltwater marshes, woodlands, grasslands, bottomland forested habitats, scrub brush zones, farming lands, ponds, and a seven mile long creek. Naturally occurring tidal salt marshes make up 2300 acres of the refuge, and man-made freshwater ponds cover 4000 acres. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the freshwater impoundment systems were built in the 1980's to provide refuge officials the means to raise and lower water levels in the ponds to accommodate the needs of migratory birds during different seasons of the year. The ponds provided habitat for wintering waterfowl, places to feed for spring and fall migratory shorebirds, and nesting areas for wading birds in the summer.

And therein lies the rub. Having provided beautiful habitat for bird watching and wildlife viewing, the refuge created the perfect conditions for housing development along the bay coast: water views both east and west of established residences and newly built homes. But in 2006, Hurricane Ernesto breached the dunes and caused an influx of sediment and saltwater behind some homes. Viewed as a natural process, the breach was not repaired. In 2009 and 2010 the dune line was again overwashed, pouring more saltwater into the freshwater ponds, killing most of the vegetation, and again flooding the area. In 2011 the dunes were rebuilt, but destroyed within a week by another storm. Valuable time for action has been delayed by lawsuits and agencies debating how to resolve the issues, one of which is how to protect the homes already in the community.

Prime Hook Road entrance to Prime Hook Beach

Prime Hook Road Surrounded By Saltwater Infused Ponds

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed three proposals to resolve this problem, but homeowners are concerned about the outcomes:

1. Option 1: Take no action.
2. Option 2: Actively manage the refuge to mimic natural processes (FWS' preference).
3. Option 3: Reinstate cooperative farming in the refuge, manage both saltwater and freshwater habitats, and rebuild infrastructure and the dunes along the Delaware Bayshore.

For more information about Prime Hook Beach and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Preserve, go to www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook

Wading Shorebirds' Habitat at the Refuge

Two Wading Shorebirds Perched on Tree Branches

Prime Hook Beach

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5/19/2012

Migratory Birds Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs

Every Spring . . .
Migratory Shore Birds Stop to Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs Along the Delaware Bay Beaches Before Continuing Their Arduous Flight North

Red Knots As Seen in Wikipedia May, 2012.

Throughout the year Delaware's ocean and bay beaches provide some of the best birdwatching experiences on the Mid-Atlantic Coast, but spring and fall migratory seasons attract thousands of bird enthusiasts hoping to see birds on the endangered species list. One of the most remarkable of those birds is the Calidris canutus rufa, commonly called the red knot shorebird.

About the size of a robin, red knot shorebirds travel more than 9300 miles from South America to North America, stopping over for two weeks along the Delaware Bay beaches to feed on the translucent green eggs being laid by the horseshoe crabs (see last week's post below). Then the red knots continue migrating north to the Canadian Arctic to breed.

Little is known about the juvenile red knots after they leave the Arctic until they return to the Delaware Bay two years later. In 2006, because of declining red knot populations, the species was named a candidate for the endangered species list. A decision should be announced later this year. Scientists believe the health and vitality of the birds is directly related to their refueling stopover on the Delaware Bay. The eggs of the horseshoe crabs provide valuable fat reserves for the birds' long flight north and contributes to the health of the new Arctic hatchlings. One reason their numbers may have dropped before 2006 may have been because of overfishing of the crabs, reducing the numbers of eggs for the shore birds to eat. New regulations now limit the number of crabs permitted to be taken and the time period in which they may be trapped.

Adult shorebirds have begun arriving at the Delaware Beaches and the next two weeks will provide great birdwatching, especially at these bay beaches and wildlife reserves: Bombay Hook, Port Mahon Beach, Kitts Hummock, Ted Harvey Wildlife Area, Bowers Beach, South Bowers Beach, Slaughter Beach, Fowlers Beach, and Broadkill Beach.

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5/5/2012

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Logo of the Partnership

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is one of 28 national estuary programs in the United States' coastal zones. Established in 1996 as a non-profit organization, the Partnership takes a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary, where fresh water from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. Partners in three states, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, work with the organization's staff to increase awareness and understanding of the estuary and to share scientific knowledge and research about the Delaware Estuary.

The Partnership's mission is to lead collaborative and creative events that will educate the public and organizations about the Delaware Estuary and its tributaries in an effort to protect it for current and future generations. Activities are as varied as volunteer clean-ups of the local river banks and bay beaches to fundraisers and teacher education programs. Follow this link for a list of upcoming activities and information about the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

http://delawareestuary.org/who_we_are_the_estuary.asp

The Delaware Estuary Encompasses Areas of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

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4/14/2012

Kitts Hummock Beach, Delaware

Another Delaware Bay Beach at Kitts Hummock

Kitts Hummock Beach, Delaware

Every time I drive past the Dover Air Force Base along Delaware Route 1S, I smile when I see the exit sign for Kitts Hummock. Why? It always brings up images in my mind of my cats snoozing away on a summer day, all comfortably stretched out in a gently swaying green hammock.

What exactly is a hammock, errr, I mean, "hummock"? A hummock is a small hill or area that is on higher ground than the rest of the surrounding landscape. According to the Delaware Public Archives, which operates a Historical Marker Program throughout the state, Kitts Hummock has an interesting history, based upon its land formation: "Like the Native Americans before them, European settlers used this rising ground or “hummock” on the shore of the Delaware Bay as a place for fishing and recreation. In 1738, Jehu Curtis received a patent for lands that he called “Kitt’s Hammock” (sic). By the early 1800s, the Pleasanton family had established a tavern here for the entertainment of visitors. Around 1846, a hotel was built nearby. Known for a time as the Bay View Hotel, it was long the center of local activities. In the latter decades of the 19th century, a number of small cottages were erected here. Many were owned by residents of Dover who left the sweltering heat of summer behind for the cooling effects of the waters and bay breezes. Kitts Hummock continues to provide a peaceful refuge for residents and visitors alike."

Kitts Hummock is also an official sanctuary for horseshoe crabs, Delaware's state marine animal. Each May and June, thousands of horseshoe crabs spawn on the beaches of the Delaware Bay, attracting tourists to see the huge numbers of crabs coming ashore, and to see the migrating birds stopping along the shore to eat many of the crabs' eggs. Delaware provides colorful, informative placards at these beach spawning sites describing the horseshoe crabs and their contribution to medicine. I'll write about the horseshoe crabs in more detail on another upcoming post. In the meantime, you may want to follow this link http://www.ecodelaware.com/place.php?id=355 for more information from the State of Delaware.

Kitts Hummock Beach is a very wide, sandy beach, flanked by evergreen trees, shrubs, dune grasses, and low-growing cacti. The very calm bay waters here appear good for swimming, but upon closer inspection, you will discover that the few feet of visible water actually flows on top of vast mud flats, making even walking in the water difficult, and in places, dangerous. The mud layers are so deep that you could easily sink in a few feet. The mud flats become most evident at low tide, when only a few inches of water appear to be flowing across the muddy bay. Kitts Hummock Beach is a beautiful place to beachcomb and walk, but not so much for wading or swimming. Even kayaking, canoeing, or rafting could pose difficulties if you were suddenly tipped over and had to find a solid footing to stand on. The best part about Kitts Hummock Beach is that the beach area is quiet and clean, and with all the vegetation growing nearby, a walk on this Delaware Bay beach has the effect of feeling like you are walking along your own tropical island.

So, no cats swinging merrily in the breeze in a comfortable hammock, but a lot of historical significance and environmental beauty for the people in the area and the tourists visiting Kitts Hummock Beach, Delaware.

Public Beach Access to Kitts Hummock Beach

Beach Access Lined with Green Shrubs and Pines

Looking North Up Kitts Hummock Beach

Plenty of Evergreen Growth at Kitts Hummock Beach and Low Growing Cacti

Close-up View of Ground Cover Cacti at Kitts Hummock

Looking South Along the Beach at Kitts Hummock

Looking North Along the Beach at Kitts Hummock, Delaware

Direct View of the Sandy Beach at Kitts Hummock From the Dune

Mud Flats in the Water During Low Tide at Kitts Hummock Beach

Rock and Sea Glass Collecting at Kitts Hummock Beach in Delaware. Can You Spot the Brown Sea Glass, aka Bay Glass?

Intrusion of the Mud Flats at Water's Edge onto the Beach at Kitts Hummock Beach, Delaware, at Low Tide.

Dark Brown Mud Flats Apparent at Low Tide at Kitts Hummock Beach Inhibit Walking, Wading, and Swimming

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3/31/2012

Lewes Beach and Roosevelt Beach, Delaware

Lewes Beach and Roosevelt Beach Along the Delaware Bay

View of Lewes Beach South to Cape Henlopen

Lewes Beach in Lewes, Delaware (pronounced Lewis), is one of the area's beautiful, family beaches stretching along the Delaware Bay. Its gently sloping shoreline creates two to three foot waves that provide a safe place for children to swim and play. The sandy beach extends south in a crescent shape to Cape Henlopen State Park and north to nearby Roosevelt Beach, which is adjacent to the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal that connects the two cities. At the entrance to the canal, the University of Delaware docks its fleet of ships which includes their newest seagoing research experiment vessel, the R/V Hugh R. Sharp. Lining the canal are numerous docks, boathouses, lovely family homes, and well-known eating and shopping establishments.

View of Lewes Beach North to Roosevelt Beach

Walking along the shoreline from Lewes Beach to Roosevelt Beach, beachcombers find a variety of shells, whelks, conches, horseshoe crab shells, seaweed, minerals, stones, rocks, sea glass, and shipwreck artifacts. Along the way, several jetties designed for small craft launching and for holding the sandy shore in place, jut out into the gentle bay, often accumulating barnacles, starfish, and other water life while providing feeding habitat for small bay fishes.

Entrance to Roosevelt Beach Over the Dunes

Entrance to both bay beaches is an easy walk along designated paths over the dunes or along pathways from parking areas. Lewes Beach has a metered, paved parking lot, and Roosevelt Beach has a free, graveled parking area. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season at Lewes Beach, but Roosevelt Beach does not have lifeguards. Instead, families watch their children play in the slight surf where sailboats and kayaks launch out into the gentle bay waters.

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DELAWARE'S FERAL, ABANDONED, STRAY, AND LOST CATS

WILDLIFE IS PRECIOUS IN DELAWARE: FERAL CATS FIND A PLACE AS COMMUNITY CATS OR NEIGHBORHOOD CATS

"Building Resilient Coastal Communities" Is Coast Day 2013's Theme

Coast Day 2013 Is This Sunday, October 6, in Lewes, Delaware!

Prime Hook Beach

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Photographs of Hurricane Sandy's Impact in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania Needed for Research by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

A Message from the Science Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

Sea Glass Festivals

Lewes' Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival 2012

Prime Hook Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

Migratory Birds Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs

Every Spring . . .
Migratory Shore Birds Stop to Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs Along the Delaware Bay Beaches Before Continuing Their Arduous Flight North

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Kitts Hummock Beach, Delaware

Another Delaware Bay Beach at Kitts Hummock

Lewes Beach and Roosevelt Beach, Delaware

Lewes Beach and Roosevelt Beach Along the Delaware Bay

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﻿WILDLIFE IS PRECIOUS IN DELAWARE: FERAL CATS FIND A PLACE AS COMMUNITY CATS OR NEIGHBORHOOD CATS﻿

Coast Day 2013 Is This Sunday, October 6, in Lewes, Delaware!

Get Ready For Great Photographs of Prime Hook Beach & Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

A Message from the Science Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

Lewes' Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival 2012

Prime Hook Beach, A Delaware Bay Beach Near Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, Is Now Threatened by Rising Water Levels, Salt Water Intrusion & Inaction

Every Spring . . .Migratory Shore Birds Stop to Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs Along the Delaware Bay Beaches Before Continuing Their Arduous Flight North

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Another Delaware Bay Beach at Kitts Hummock

Lewes Beach and Roosevelt Beach Along the Delaware Bay

Author

Archives

Categories

WILDLIFE IS PRECIOUS IN DELAWARE: FERAL CATS FIND A PLACE AS COMMUNITY CATS OR NEIGHBORHOOD CATS

Every Spring . . .
Migratory Shore Birds Stop to Feast on Horseshoe Crab Eggs Along the Delaware Bay Beaches Before Continuing Their Arduous Flight North